Chasing Red by Lauren Winder Farnsworth {Blog Tour Review + Giveaway}

Ryder Redmond can’t wait to begin her new life in New York City, with her first real job after college. But the big city gets a little more complicated once she meets the charming and mysterious Damian Wolfe. On the surface he seems perfect, but her friend Hunter is suspicious of his all-too-straight smile and his motives towards Ryder. With her heart on the line, Ryder will have to decide just how much she trusts the handsome city slicker.

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My Review: 5 Stars

There are some fairytales that I love more than others and Little Red Riding Hood isn't at the top of my list. However, I thought this modern version was very, very well done and I absolutely loved it!

I'm not an adventurous person. Back in my single days, I would have loved to move to a big city and have new experiences, but I'm a chicken. I admire Ryder's bravery to do just that. Ryder is a contradiction, which makes her likable. She's brave and hardworking, yet she's totally clueless. Damian is a charming and everyone can see that he's no good for Ryder--well, everyone but her. She's so overly trusting and drawn in by that charisma. Am I the only one who's been lured in by someone like Mr. Wolfe? It's much easier to see things clearly when it's not happening to you. I sure wanted to do something to wake her up from her oblivion.

As for the content, it's a good balance of romance, friendship, lurking danger, loyalties, and learning experiences. I love Ryder's two best friends--fellow co-worker Hunter and roommate Lily. The three of them have a fantastic dynamic, full of sarcasm, wit, and true friendship and I adored them all! These characters are written in ways that bring them to life and really made me feel like I had the experience of living a part of my life in a dream world, without actually having to leave my comfort zone.

I didn't realize there was a mystery, of sorts, looming on the horizon until the culmination of events, but it really added that extra sprinkle of sugar to the top of a fun and entertaining story. I love the way it all ends and really enjoyed my time with these characters in New York City. This author is quickly becoming a favorite for these modern re-tellings and I can't wait for more.

*I received a copy through the publisher, which did not affect my thoughts. All opinions expressed are my own.*

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About the Author:

Lauren Winder Farnsworth was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. She is an avid reader, a chocolate enthusiast, and a CPA with a slight alternative music obsession and dreams of one day becoming a gourmet chef. She obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Accounting from the University of Utah, went to work as a financial statement auditor, and then decided that since creative accounting wasn’t an option, creative writing would have to do. As a nice compromise, accountants tend to crop up in her stories (since she believes they’re shockingly under-represented in literature anyway).

Having obtained two degrees from the same institution has made Lauren somewhat of a compound collegiate fan, and the only entity that holds more of her heart than the University of Utah is her hunky husband, Bryan. Lauren currently lives in South Jordan, Utah, where she spends entirely too much time watching Gilmore Girls and looking for excuses not to clean. She loves hearing from her readers at www.laurenwinderfarnsworth.com.